Never Yours ✔️

Ch. 9

 She jerked upright, her heart thundering wildly in her chest. Her fingers jumped to her throat, softly sliding across her skin, feeling for wounds. Her arms dropped and she slumped back into her pillows, staring up at the ceiling, watching the shadows of the trees outside flicker. She sighed.

She wouldn't get anymore sleep tonight.

Her legs swung over the side of the bed and she grabbed her robe from the hook beside her bed as she stood. The wood chilled her bare feet as she made her way to the door, grabbing Idaly's dagger and belt as she passed her desk. The familiar weight settled around her waist and she touched the hilt subconsciously. Arysa opened the door, but when she tried to leave, two men stepped in her way. She fell back.

"What are you doing?" She mumbled drowsily. "Who are you? Get out of my way."

They shook her heads.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but we have strict orders not to let you leave this room." A familiar voice said.

Kera. Ice shot through Arysa's blood and she took another step back, memories from the massacre flooding her head.

"Orders from who?" Her voice sharpened.

"Lord Dreadroot." Kera replied.

Anger hissed through her. "Since when do you obey Lord Dreadroot?" Her eyes narrowed. "When did you start taking orders from a traitor, a spy?"

Kera shifted uncomfortably. "I advise against using such words, Princess."

"Use my title." Arysa snapped. "I am a Lady of the Royal Court, not just the king's niece."

Kera nodded. "Of course, sorry, Lady Arysa."

"Let me out, Kera." Arysa demanded, stepping forward. They tensed.

"We can't, Lady." The second guard said. Ren.

She knew it was no coincidence he placed these guards outside her door.

"Did you not see what he did yesterday?" Arysa hissed. "All those people he killed?"

Ren cleared his throat. "That was the king's orders."

"Was it?"

Kera stepped forward and Arysa jumped back, drawing her dagger. He flinched.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He held up his hands. "You know me—"

"I used to."

He fell silent.

Ren sighed. "Look, Lady Arysa—" He stopped, his eyes narrowing on her neck. "Did something happen to your neck? Are you hurt? Kera, go get Eklys—"

"No." Arysa replied quickly, lifting her robe to cover her neck. "There's nothing wrong with my neck."

Ren raised a brow. "Then why cover it?"

She looked away. Ren nodded at Kera and he started down the hall. Arysa looked up sharply and lurched after him.

"No—stop! Don't!"

Ren caught her and wrestled the dagger out of her grip.

"Lady, Arysa, please."

"I'm fine. I don't need Eklys. There's nothing he can do anyway. You shouldn't wake him." Arysa pleaded.

Kera stopped, glancing back at Ren, but he wasn't looking at him. His eyes were on Arysa's neck. With the night so dark, it was too difficult to see exactly what it was, but now she was close, he could see the shape of the bruise. His eyes darkened.